Page 25 | AIBU to be angry about the benefits system

Daffodilsinfebruary · 2024-04-07T15:23:42+00:00

I have recently discovered by using a free, independent benefits calculator called entitledto that had I applied for Universal Credit over 2 years ago, me and my family would be over £16,000 better off. I had assumed that benefits were for either single-parent families or people unable to work due to disability. The majority of our savings would have been from claiming 85% back in childcare costs. We also would have had a payout of over £200 each month in addition. For context, we bring in just shy off £4,000 a month. I thought this was a very reasonable income and we would be entitled to nil. I feel angry that we did not know about this. A friend of mine who I met through our children attending the same nursery told me she claims 85% back in childcare costs during a conversation in which I complained of my childcare going up £150. I did further research and 19 billion pounds apparently goes unclaimed every year. I’ve never claimed benefits in all my life and worked hard to get on the property ladder. should I be angry that we didn’t claim, or take it in my stride. I wonder how many other families who could have claimed but haven’t.

WithACatLikeTread · 07/04/2024 18:19

Daffodilsinfebruary · 07/04/2024 18:13

I have put everything into the Entitled To calculator and this is what it came back telling me I am ‘entitled to’.

The only way to know is to apply. As it is not clear otherwise as so many factors.

I will try another calculator later and see what comes back.

I do not think I should be entitled to anything either as we get by and we aren’t in poverty.

Although if I am entitled I will claim as myself, DH and my family are all Tax-Payers and if the systems shows we can have something back then so be it.

Yet you moan about people milking and playing the system?

Headfirstintothewild · 07/04/2024 18:15

Beezknees · 07/04/2024 18:12

Yes, I know? I was just commenting that it made sense, that's all!

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Sorry, where you said OP said it didn’t include childcare I assumed you hadn’t noticed that I was replying to someone else who had posted someone on that income wouldn’t be entitled to anything.

TeaKitten · 07/04/2024 18:14

Daffodilsinfebruary · 07/04/2024 18:04

Haven’t read all the comments but this isn’t a wind up.

This information is from the Entitled To which is the first one in the list that the Gov.uk website links to.

It’s just a calculator though, you can make up any old crap figures to get you to this nice sum (that you aren’t entitled to) so that you can use it to benefit bash and start a goady thread.

imforeverblowingbuttons · 07/04/2024 18:14

If you earn less than 40k you will be entitled to UC. If you earn less than 60k you are entitled to child benefit (think this is going up

WithACatLikeTread · 07/04/2024 18:13

OP why not put all the details on here so people can do the sums? Be more accurate.

KeepingItUnderTheRadar · 07/04/2024 18:13

This information is from the Entitled To which is the first one in the list that the Gov.uk website links to

No, it's not. You're clearly not understanding something and/or entering something incorrectly, as shown by the fact you've said you'll get money paid towards your mortgage - which is NOT the case. And nor does Entitled To tell you it is.

Original poster

Daffodilsinfebruary · 07/04/2024 18:13

I have put everything into the Entitled To calculator and this is what it came back telling me I am ‘entitled to’.

The only way to know is to apply. As it is not clear otherwise as so many factors.

I will try another calculator later and see what comes back.

I do not think I should be entitled to anything either as we get by and we aren’t in poverty.

Although if I am entitled I will claim as myself, DH and my family are all Tax-Payers and if the systems shows we can have something back then so be it.

OP posts:

Beezknees · 07/04/2024 18:12

Headfirstintothewild · 07/04/2024 18:10

I wasn’t replying to what the OP said she would get. If you read the post I was replying to a poster who said OP wouldn’t be entitled to anything. Which isn’t the case. The amount OP said she would receive is overestimated but that is not what my post was replying to.

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Yes, I know? I was just commenting that it made sense, that's all!

Headfirstintothewild · 07/04/2024 18:10

Beezknees · 07/04/2024 18:07

That makes more sense if it includes childcare, OP said it didn't in her post though so maybe she got mixed up.

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I wasn’t replying to what the OP said she would get. If you read the post I was replying to a poster who said OP wouldn’t be entitled to anything. Which isn’t the case. The amount OP said she would receive is overestimated but that is not what my post was replying to.

Grapewrath · 07/04/2024 18:09

So you’re angry you didn’t claim it, but angry because you didn’t need it and feel it’s a waste of money.
Ok.

Beezknees · 07/04/2024 18:07

Headfirstintothewild · 07/04/2024 17:47

There is no way you are entitled to anything OP especially on that wage.

That isn’t correct. See the calculation:
Standard allowance. £578.82
First child. £269.58
2nd child. £269.58
Childcare. £1,630.15
Total = £2,748.13

Earnings minus work allowance
£4,000 - £631 = £3,369

x 0.55 = £1,852.95

Total - earnings deductions = total UC
£2,748.13 - 1,852.95 = £895.18

Even if OP doesn’t receive the full childcare amount she could well still receive UC especially once the elements and work allowance increases for the 24/25 amounts.

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That makes more sense if it includes childcare, OP said it didn't in her post though so maybe she got mixed up.

hellesbells · 07/04/2024 18:05

Daffodilsinfebruary · 07/04/2024 18:04

Haven’t read all the comments but this isn’t a wind up.

This information is from the Entitled To which is the first one in the list that the Gov.uk website links to.

It misinformation though you arent entitled to those benefits I reckon you are on a windup

Original poster

Daffodilsinfebruary · 07/04/2024 18:04

Haven’t read all the comments but this isn’t a wind up.

This information is from the Entitled To which is the first one in the list that the Gov.uk website links to.

OP posts:

hellesbells · 07/04/2024 18:01

Daffodilsinfebruary · 07/04/2024 16:59

For context we have 2 children

This is just another benefits bashing thread and you don't get any help with a mortgage

TeaKitten · 07/04/2024 17:55

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Reported as spam. I haven’t clicked on the link but I wouldn’t advise anyone else to either!

david22547 · 07/04/2024 17:54

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Headfirstintothewild · 07/04/2024 17:53

Babyroobs · 07/04/2024 17:50

Is the £1630 85% of the childcare costs?

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£1,630.15 is the maximum amount claimants can get for the childcare element for 2 or more DC. Not all will receive that because it is 85% up to that amount, but many do receive the whole amount. My point was the pp assuming someone on £4k wouldn’t get UC was incorrect.

Babyroobs · 07/04/2024 17:52

Hard to calculate when we don't even know that op's kids ages, whether they have any savings over 6k or what the actual childcare costs are.

TeaKitten · 07/04/2024 17:51

Babyroobs · 07/04/2024 17:50

Is the £1630 85% of the childcare costs?

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it’s the maximum anyone can get towards childcare costs for 2 children

Babyroobs · 07/04/2024 17:50

Headfirstintothewild · 07/04/2024 17:47

There is no way you are entitled to anything OP especially on that wage.

That isn’t correct. See the calculation:
Standard allowance. £578.82
First child. £269.58
2nd child. £269.58
Childcare. £1,630.15
Total = £2,748.13

Earnings minus work allowance
£4,000 - £631 = £3,369

x 0.55 = £1,852.95

Total - earnings deductions = total UC
£2,748.13 - 1,852.95 = £895.18

Even if OP doesn’t receive the full childcare amount she could well still receive UC especially once the elements and work allowance increases for the 24/25 amounts.

Show quote history

Is the £1630 85% of the childcare costs?

WithACatLikeTread · 07/04/2024 17:50

Headfirstintothewild · 07/04/2024 17:47

There is no way you are entitled to anything OP especially on that wage.

That isn’t correct. See the calculation:
Standard allowance. £578.82
First child. £269.58
2nd child. £269.58
Childcare. £1,630.15
Total = £2,748.13

Earnings minus work allowance
£4,000 - £631 = £3,369

x 0.55 = £1,852.95

Total - earnings deductions = total UC
£2,748.13 - 1,852.95 = £895.18

Even if OP doesn’t receive the full childcare amount she could well still receive UC especially once the elements and work allowance increases for the 24/25 amounts.

Show quote history

Okay. That is mad. We earn less then half that yet they can get the UC and their wages. They will be rolling in it whilst others genuinely struggle.

Nonametonight · 07/04/2024 17:49

Daffodilsinfebruary · 07/04/2024 16:58

I appreciate this but so many people claim benefits and also don’t work.

I was brought up by my family to work, had a paper round age 11 and worked in a cafe at weekends from 15. From there I’ve never not worked apart from maternity leave however I was still employed.

I know acquaintances who ‘play’ the system, but generally don’t work although they could as have school aged children and no disabilities x

Because I am entitled to claim should I automatically claim?

We haven’t struggled but that’s due to budgeting, planning and saving.

We are looking to put a claim in now, as with increased nursery costs and other bills increasing we are now struggling if are to many Ian the same lifestyle so I guess without it now we would find it hard to stay in the green. Although our claim hasn’t yet been improved. It is complicated to set up, and my DH has to attend an appointment at the Job Centre to prove identity etc.

It appears that from the comments on this thread I am silly to not have tried to claim, I thought there would be more comments from people being shocked at the thought we could with our joint income being £4000.

Just did the calculator again on entitled to again and it’s more than I thought
total a month we are entitled to is £1,140 not
including the 85% childcare we can claim back)
£460 universal credit a month
£500 a month towards our mortgage loan
£42.55 (child benefit we already get this)

The UC amount includes the 85% childcare

The amount towards your mortgage is a loan which is repayable when you sell your house

Headfirstintothewild · 07/04/2024 17:47

WithACatLikeTread · 07/04/2024 17:24

We have two children with a mortgage and earn less than £2000 a month. The most we get is about £350. There is no way you are entitled to anything OP especially on that wage. If you had several children before 2017, disability and rent possibly you would but you have a mortgage.

Why are you putting the claim in if you are saying others shouldn't be doing it? Not sure this post is genuine.

£4,000!

Edited

There is no way you are entitled to anything OP especially on that wage.

That isn’t correct. See the calculation:
Standard allowance. £578.82
First child. £269.58
2nd child. £269.58
Childcare. £1,630.15
Total = £2,748.13

Earnings minus work allowance
£4,000 - £631 = £3,369

x 0.55 = £1,852.95

Total - earnings deductions = total UC
£2,748.13 - 1,852.95 = £895.18

Even if OP doesn’t receive the full childcare amount she could well still receive UC especially once the elements and work allowance increases for the 24/25 amounts.

KeepingItUnderTheRadar · 07/04/2024 17:46

As a very rough guide, an example I just tried.

2 x DC, born in 2019 and 2021
Mortgaged home, council tax band E
2 x salaries of £28k (circa £4k net per month as per op)
Childcare bill of £1200 a month

Total UC award £262 a month.
Nowhere near op's figures.

Beezknees · 07/04/2024 17:41